Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi Foreword by Stewart P. Evans

Foreword by Stewart P. Evans

Writing a book on the subject of Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel murders of 1888 has been likened to entering a minefield. Any author with the temerity to embark upon this literary venture knows full well the meaning of these words. For not only is detailed research and reading on the subject required, a proper understanding of the subject matter, Victorian times, police, press, people and history is also needed. So it is with admiration that I have read this contribution to the genre by Australian author Spiro Dimolianis. Not only has he been brave enough to tackle this vexed subject; he has chosen to focus on one of the more controversial aspects of Ripperology—Jack the Ripper and black magic. He has done this with an understanding of the material that is to be applauded, and I thoroughly recommend this work to anyone with an interest in this subject. It provides a new and much needed insight on an area that attracts more than its fair share of madcap ideas and theories—and has thrown up one of the more colorful suspects for the identity of the unknown Victorian killer. Mr. Dimolianis has aptly subtitled it “Victorian Conspiracy Theories, Secret Societies and the Supernatural Mystique of the Whitechapel Murders.”

He rapidly engages us in the proper historical context of the times. As anyone with more than a passing knowledge of the subject is aware it is bedeviled with myth and misinformation. Here fictions are identified and examined and source material is considered, very relevant these days when the searching of online digital archives seems to be totally replacing good old- fashioned and time- consuming scouring of dusty records, letters and manuscripts. The importance of the cultural conditions and context with regard to interpreting the meaning of the historical data is explained. This is very important when modern concepts such as criminal profiling and studies of modern serial killers are increasingly applied to this case. This is more than a mere study of the “black magic” aspect of the case; it is a study of the concept of “conspiracy theories” used as an explanation for the motive and the murders. The author has not restricted himself to searching the Internet for information—he has realized the importance of supplementing that with the old research methods. We find out whether the idea of a “secret society” explanation is credible, and what of the secretive Special Branch of Scotland Yard and its possible involvement as evidenced in the Littlechild Letter, written to journalist, author, playwright, poet and man of letters George R. Sims in 1913, in which the colorful Irish- American suspect “Dr.” Francis Tumblety was revealed?

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It will be helpful to the reader to be au fait with the basics of the case and the story of the murders, but if not, a copy of The Jack the Ripper A–Z or Sugden’s Complete History of Jack the Ripper would be beneficial as a ready reference. The book takes you on an enjoyable journey of discovery through the back streets, alleys and courts of Ripperology and is very different from any other book published on this famous chapter of criminological history.

The reader will find all aspects of the occult case for the murders and will meet fortune tellers, mediums, spiritualists and their ilk. The old favorite of occultists, “the Great Beast,” Aleister Crowley is here in all his glory and his connection with the Ripper story is fully explained. Iconic areas of Ripper research such as the “Macnaghten Memoranda,” the “Swanson marginalia” and Assistant Commissioner Robert Anderson’s “Polish Jew theory” are analyzed. And the tyro need fear not—for he or she is in the safe hands of a reliable and objective guide through the labyrinthine twists and turns of this baffling and beguiling history. Anderson, an undoubtedly important player in the drama, is looked at in depth and the relevance of his theological writings considered. The status of Anderson’s pronouncements is defined. Many connections are made for the first time here as we read of the mysteries of black magic and tangential personalities such as Arthur Diosy.

Perhaps one of the more important parts of the book is that which looks at Roslyn D’Onston Stephenson, regarded by many as the top candidate for a “Jack the Magician” suspect—but was he a black magician at all? The pioneering work of author Bernard O’Donnell, an early “champion” of D’Onston is looked at. D’Onston was a patient in the London Hospital, hard by the killing ground, and we find an answer to the puzzling question of whether he could get out of the confines of the hospital at night in order to commit the crimes. The book is a literary historian’s delight as the author examines obscure references, sources and probable influences for later writers on the subject. So, to those who puzzle over D’Onston and his status as a suspect—puzzle no more. The whole black magic angle attributed to the Whitechapel murders is explored and explained. The mysterious character of Vittoria Cremers, to whom the main case against D’Onston is credited, is fleshed out and assessed. The equally mysterious “Cremers memoir” is explained, and we meet the Victorian Theosophists led by the influential but decidedly odd Helena Blavatsky. You will also find here the mysterious “Jesuit theory.” The very popular idea of conspiracy theory in shaping the history of Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel murders is properly looked at for the first time.

Among the other characters we meet are author William Le Queux, Rasputin, “Dr. Pedachenko,” Betty May, the suspect Fogelma and many others. It is all rounded off with an examination of secret societies, Parnellism and crime, and the Victorian secret service and Special Branch police. Mention of Parnellism and crime immediately reminds me again of Sir Robert Anderson whose series of articles in The Times in mid–1887 resulted in the Parnell Commission of late 1888 and 1889, which inquired into libels against the Irish Party MP Charles Stewart Parnell and The Times publication of the infamous letters seeking to associate Parnell with the Irish terrorists and the infamous Phoenix Park murders. The letters were found to be forgeries written by the journalist Richard Pigott, who committed suicide in Madrid in 1889. It is in this connection that a good insight into the character of Robert Anderson may be found.

Anderson’s famous words with regard to the identity of Jack the Ripper are to be found in his 1910 book of memoirs The Lighter Side of My Official Life. In this volume Anderson

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notably states of the Ripper, “In saying that he was a Polish Jew I am merely stating a definitely ascertained fact.” Many theorists regard this statement as the best indication that we shall ever have of the identity of the Ripper, bolstering it with the claim that Anderson would not have lied and that his statement carries much weight as he “was in the best position to know.” However, in my copy of the second edition (1907) of Anderson’s 1906 book Sidelights on the Home Rule Movement, there is a new preface in which Anderson comments upon the forged Parnell letter written by Pigott. Anderson states, “And as regards the Parnell ‘facsimile letter’ of May 15, 1882, I have received definite confirmation of my statement that it is in the handwriting of Arthur O’Keefe. I have obtained further proof, moreover, that at that period O’Keefe was employed by Mr. Parnell as an amanuensis.” History shows us that Pigott and not O’Keefe was the writer. So, perhaps Anderson’s “definitely ascertained fact” may not have been so definite as he claimed.

Stewart P. Evans has researched, written and coauthored reference works on Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel murders. He consults on books, documentaries and films on the subject and was employed as a historical advisor on the feature movie From Hell. He is a retired police officer with a distinguished service career.